"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith" (12:1-2).
The communion of saints is a timely topic as November approaches, the month we celebrate All Saints (Nov. 1) and All Souls (Nov. 2) and pray for the dead. This core belief is stated in the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”
I have never paid much attention to the saints, but that all changed one summer about 10 years ago. It was the summer that my oldest daughter was going off to college for the first time. Her move-in day was scheduled for Aug. 27. It should have been an exciting and fun day for all of us, except for one thing: My son was to appear in juvenile court that same morning due to his impulsive adolescent behavior.
One particular saint that I continue to be inspired by is Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. During my study-abroad in Rome, I had the opportunity to visit the office for his cause for canonization with my friend, (now) Father Andrew Liaugminas. Andrew and I took a picture holding his pickaxe, the very one he was holding in his iconic pose standing on top of La Lunelle Mountain a few months before he died.
The saint whose story inspires me the most is Blessed Pope John XXIII (Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli 1881-1963). He was born into a peasant family, one of 13 children, and wore hand-me-down clothes until he was in gradate school. He was unabashedly human. He smoked cigarettes, drank wine and enjoyed eating. He was elected pope at the age of 77 in 1958 and convened the Second Vatican Council. It is the ecumenical council that is still changing the church today.
